Product Description
The Team Series is suitable for use with both individuals or as a group tutor encouraging students to try ensemble playing from the very early stages. Team Woodwind is a flexible and adaptable course ideal for beginner woodwind players and can be tailored to suit the specific needs of each student. Each piece is carefully graded to ensure a logical progression at a sensible pace and students are introduced to a wide variety of musical styles throughout the book. Imaginative piano accompaniments have been provided to add variety in performance. ... Read more

Product Description
With over 200 line drawings by the author. This ultimate book for the millions of Gilbert & Sullivan fans across the country offers the complete text and lyrics of all the operettas of this most original, creative and much-loved musical team.

Product Description
Gene Lees' bestseller for songwriters has been revised! In addition to providing fascinating, creative and clear techniques for writing lyrics, this edition now includes: a new foreword by renowned songwriters Alan and Marilyn Bergman; a new chapter called "Tattered Standards," which outlines the lack of literacy in certain modern songs and shows you how to avoid it; a new chapter called "The Words You Choose," which examines why words from some language families are subconsciously more appealing than those from others; and much more! Invaluable to the beginner, this book will also prove beneficial to professionals, poets, linguists and teachers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

To bring out that "one good song" each of us has within us
Oscar Hammerstein believed that each of us may have "one good song" within us, waiting to "come out into the light." Hammerstein wrote with authority (he had huge hit shows, with both Richard Rodgers and Jerome Kern) that, "If I meet a man with just one song, I'd be more interested in that man than those who have 'written 400.' I believe that anyone who stated sincerely what was in his heart, could not only write a song, but get it published, because it would be sure to be a good song." (More words of advice from the greatest 'theatrical' lyricist in a moment.)

Look, forget the "rhyming dictionary" part of this book (I have several of those). What sets this book apart as "essential reading" for would-be song-writers is the first 50 pages: the best advice frustrated song-writers (like me) will ever find -- anywhere!

As I type this I have two 'classics' of the genre in front of me: Oscar Hammerstein's book, titled simply, "LYRICS," and Ira Gershwin's "LYRICS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS." If both those giants of the art were still with us, I'm certain they'd agree that Gene Lees has written the best book of its kind. And, whether or not your "one great song" ever sees the light of day, you'll have much fun reading what Mr. Lees has to say. Just one example:

There was a night in 1967 the Canadian-born jazz writer 'crossed paths' with Nancy Sinatra (even if they didn't actually meet). I close my eyes and imagine Frank Sinatra emerging from a night-time session with Claus Ogerman's stellarorchestra (for Sinatra's album with Antonio Carlos Jobim) and immediately starting work with another, much smaller group of musicians, assembled by his first-born, Nancy, for the duet with her Dad that would sell a million copies.

I imagine Gene Lees feeling so lucky, that the stars had finally aligned in his own life; sitting off to one side by himself, perhaps, watching and listening in amazed silence, (pinching himself to make sure it was true?) as Sinatra brought to life, as only he can, the English words Lees had composed for one of Jobim's loveliest songs, QUIET NIGHTS OF QUIET STARS ("quiet notes from my guitar") And there was Mr. Jobim himself, Brazil's Cole Porter (as I've always thought of him) plucking the strings of his own guitar, while the greatest singer of them all worked his magic.

Recalling that moment, Lees said: "After Frank had rehearsed 'Quiet Nights' a few times, he said, 'There are a lot of esses (S's) in this song.' And so there are. I had never noticed it before."

----

I know what it's like to treasure every word Sinatra says to you (he once directed 50 words my way) and so it seems perfectly natural that Lees never stopped thinking about what Frank said: That seemingly throw-away remark prompted Lees to reflect, deeply, years later in his advice to those of us who'd love to write at least "one good song lyric."

"Recording engineers," said Lees, "don't like the letter `S' because it presents them with an equalization problem. If they boost the high frequencies, the `esses' become exaggerated." (Sirius Radio can sometimes be terrible for this, when your reception is going a little `funny' just as Lees wrote, in the days before satellite radio: "Turn up the highs (treble) on your stereo - you notice the attenuation of the `S'."

Then, going further into reflection (remember, all this stemming from a 'chance' remark by Frank Sinatra) Lees said, "The prejudice (against using a lot of `esses' in song lyrics) seems to me now, to date back to a time before high fidelity recording: Ira Gershwin wrote "'S'Wonderful" in the 1930s - and he used esses all over the place, apparently having fun with them, if not poking fun at the prejudice."

Which set Lees to "wondering about the source of this bias? Scholars tell us (or at least hypothesize) that the letter was (given that shape) like a snake to designate the sound a serpent makes. And . . . if that's so . . .the fear of snakes may underlie the prejudice."

Which brought Gene Lees back to his 'Whatever made me think of all this?' moment . . . that long ago evening in a recording studio with Sinatra, by way of an anecdote about 'The Bard.'

"The `S' problem is a problem only in overuse," he says, recalling the line from Mcbeath's soliloquy, "If the assassination, could trammel up the consequences, and catch with his surcease, success."

"That's pretty bad," said Lees. "In four syllables Shakespeare gives the actor a phrase that is hard to pronounce and quite unattractive when you DO get it out."

"As for whatever reservations recording engineers may have," said Lees, "I am reminded of what Sinatra said to his engineer at that (same) session when the latter asked him to stand further from the orchestra since their proximity was creating a `separation' difficulty."

"'That's YOUR problem!' Sinatra said pleasantly."

I believe Oscar Hammerstein would declare this book the best of its kind. Even as Hammerstein provided the best (and simplest) summing up of what is required to write your own "one great song."

"The most important ingredient in a good song," wrote Hammerstein, "is sincerity: Let the song be yours and yours alone. However important, however trivial, believe it. Mean it from the bottom of your heart, and say what is on your mind as carefully, as clearly, as beautifully as you can. Show it to no one until you are certain you cannot make one change that would improve it. After that, however, be willing to make improvements if someone can convince you they are needed."

-- Oscar Hammerstein II (1949)

This book helped me write a song lyric
I am a lyricist and have written about 25 songs, the one song I was stuck on and viola after consulting your book I found the help I needed.I reccommend this to any songwriter no matter how successful they are you are never to old to learn. I am 70.

The Modern Rhyming Dictionary Edition
Very helpful tutorial for aspiring song writers and dabblers in composing poetry.An excellent place to start.Useful desktop reference.

What Rhymes with Nickel?
I opened my package and asked my girlfriend "give me a word to rhyme" and she said "Nickel." Well, I looked and couldn't find one.

I looked up feminine (two syllable) rhymes starting with IK and found the following:

I-ka, IK-en, IK-et, I-ki, I-king, IK-ing, IK-li, IK-ling, IK-lish, IK-lur, IK-ness, IK-nik, IK-ning, I-kon, IK-sen, IK-shun, IK-si, IK-sing, IKS-ture, IK-sur, IK-ted, IK-ting, IK-tive, IK-tur, IK-tur, I-kur, IK-ur, IK-urz.

To see whether or not I had the wrong idea for how to rhyme this word, I looked up IB-l and it was there - dribble, kibble, nibble, quibble, scribble, sibyl.

I'm sure there are better rhyming dictionaries out there. Off the top of my head I can think of Pickle, Trickle, Tickle, Sickle, Fickle, Bickle... There are online rhyming dictionaries better than this one!

I bought this book on it's recommendation in Tunesmith by Jimmy Webb. Jimmy talks about a lot of rhyming books, and the one he recommended highest has been revised and the new version isn't as good as the old one, so this one seemed like a good alternate... Oh well, I guess I'm going to look for another rhyming dictionary. Since I should have more than one, I guess I'll keep this one, you never know when it might come in useful, but I wouldn't buy it.

I don't have another rhyming dictionary for you, but I highly recommend J. I. Rodale's Synonym finder as a good thesaurus. Need another word for something? This book is an excellent resource.

not intuitive
this is the first rhyming dictionary i've looked at. i've two more coming in the mail,... this thing, so far, has been something of a dissapointment. it doesn't seem very complete. as a poet, i "do" want access to many of the more obscure words because some of these words can express thoughts very precisely. part of the idea of this book is to weed out the obscure words, so it is oriented toward song writers who are not interested in developing any degree of complexity or depth in their works. now i don't know what the convention is, yet, of rhyming dictionaries, but it took me a long time to find words that rhymed with "edge" because these words were to be found under the header "EJ". i don't know about you, but when i prounce "edge", i include the "d" in my prounounciation. under "EJ" are words that include and exclude the "d", for instance, directly below "ledge" is "allege". secondly, i went to look for words that rhymed with "glow" and couldn't find them for anything. i just happened to stumble across these words under the heading "O", not "OW". this was kind of interesting. under the heading "O" are words like "foe", "fro" and "grow"; i suppose it works, but it was still an odd place to find "OW", so far as i'm concerned. at the very least, a little information under "OW" (where you might look for words ending with "ow") saying to look under "O" for the list. anyway, i feel this book is pretty poorly organized and so far it hasn't gone very far with me. my first impression of this book was REALLY bad, but as i become familiar with it, my oppinion has grown from a single star to one more. ... Read more

Product Description
Now more than ever, the ability to sight-read fluently is an essential part of the training of musicians of any instrument. This workbook is designed to help overcome the nerves that can cause sight-reading problems, by ensuring sound technique and approach and by providing confidence boosting tips. Step-by-step it helps the student to build up a complete picture of each piece, first through rhythmic and melodic exercises related to specific problems, then by the study of a prepared piece with associated questions for the student to answer. Finally, it takes students through the real, unprepared sight-reading test itself. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the definitive guide for people starting or operating a music publishing company. This book reveals why music publishing is vital to anyone actively engaged in the music business and how you can profit from it. Industry expert Tim Whitsett's guide will empower you to succeed whether you're starting up your own company, climbing the corporate ladder in your current job, or adding profits to your current music business activities. Learn how to forecast sales, calculate advances, evaluate copyright purchases, negotiate favorable contracts and licenses, market product effectively, manage personnel and company affairs efficiently, and maximize commercial potential. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Excellent Book
I have to rate this publication highly because it really explains in simple clear language the whole business of music publishing. I have to acknowledge the fact that it assisted me in landing a deal with an independent film company in Germany. I would say buy this book you will make back the cost believe me. It is my second bible.

Priceless
The invaluable information in this book is a must for everyone in the music industry. Publishing is how the monies from musical works are generated, handled, and distributed. This book goes beyond the pay one is stipulated to receive and explains the origins and derivations of such stipulations. Mr. Whitsett has amassed IMPORTANT information here... good for him... great for us.

A Great piece ofwork
I highly recommend this book to gain greater insights in the Music business or any business. donald does it again. this is one of the only legal books on the Music industry I would recommend. It was a great buy along with a couple of manuals I purchased from Musicbrains.net entitled the Indie label Kit.

Music Publishing
Normally, these type of books are very boring.But this one isn't.It's easy-friendly reading.Recommended!

Excellent, looks expensive but worth the money.
"Music Publishing" by Tim Whitsett is a value tool to understanding, filing, and starting up any goals in the music industry. The biography of the author is amazing and what he shares through his years of being as music publisher is invaluble. At first look I was skeptical and assumed that my many other books would cover the information in here. I was wrong, this book is detail in, not only, what music publishing is, but how to publish music. The slant of the author is clear when he states that he can never understand why an artist would not publish his/her own music. Another good book about publishing is "Music Publishing: A songwriter's Guide," (it is cheaper than this book) which the author has just as much creditals as Tim Whitsett, but Whitsett goes into more depth making this book a more value tool. ... Read more

Product Description
The writing of a requiem is a special challenge for any composer. The great requiems of the past by composers such as Mozart, Verdi and Berlioz interpret the sacred requiem text literally, offering prayers of salvation for the departed, whose souls are assumed to be in purgatory facing a terrible judgment.

Eternal Light: A Requiem, by the award-winning British composer and internationally acclaimed broadcaster Howard Goodall is a stunning new requiem for the modern day. In contrast it is intended to provide solace to the grieving, reflecting on the words of the Latin Mass by juxtaposing them with poems in English. Speaking about the work, Howard Goodall said, ""For me, a modern requiem is one that acknowledges the unbearable loss and emptiness that accompanies the death of loved ones, a loss that is not easily ameliorated with platitudes about the joy awaiting us in the afterlife. This, like Brahms, is a requiem for the living, addressing their suffering and endurance, a requiem focusing on the consequences of interrupted lives.

Also available in single octavo format, is Lead, Kindly Light (057153323X). ... Read more

Product Description
Now more than ever, the ability to sight-read fluently is an essential part of the training of musicians of any instrument. This workbook is designed to help overcome the nerves that can cause sight-reading problems, by ensuring sound technique and approach and by providing confidence boosting tips. Step-by-step it helps the student to build up a complete picture of each piece, first through rhythmic and melodic exercises related to specific problems, then by the study of a prepared piece with associated questions for the student to answer. Finally, it takes students through the real, unprepared sight-reading test itself. ... Read more

Product Description
This addition to the Really Easy Jazzin' About series offers young recorder players funky jazzy tunes that will be fun to play as well as building technique. Written in Pam Wedgwood's inimitable style and tailor-made to suit the absolute beginner, Really Easy Jazzin' About offers a welcome break from the classics and will be a sure-fire hit with all concerned.

Titles: Party popper!
* Star-struck
* Spiderman Rock
* Periwinkle Waltz
* Grandpas Old Boiler
* Funky Doughnut
* Dreaming
* Sasha
* Kingfisher
* Bumble Bee Boogie
*Willow
* Lets Jazz! ... Read more

Product Description
The Team Series is suitable for use with both individuals or as a group tutor encouraging students to try ensemble playing from the very early stages. Team Brass is a flexible and adaptable course ideal for beginner brass players and can be tailored to suit the specific needs of each student. Each piece is carefully graded to ensure a logical progression at a sensible pace and students are introduced to a wide variety of musical styles throughout the book. Imaginative piano accompaniments have been provided to add variety in performance. ... Read more

Product Description
Titles: All By Myself
* All The Way
* Amazed
* Anakins Theme
* Angels
* Arthurs Theme
* As Time Goes By
* Bad
* Beat It
* Beautiful Stranger
* Beyond The Sea
* Billie Jean
* Blueberry Hill
* Cant Get You Out Of My Head
* Careless Whisper
* Days Of Wine And Roses
* Dont It Make My Brown Eyes Blue
* Duel Of The Fates
* Eternal Flame
* Evergreen
* Family Affair
* Flying Without Wings
* Genie In A Bottle
* Great Balls Of Fire
* Handbags And Gladrags
* Hey Good Lookin
* House Of The Rising Sun
* How Do I Live
* I Could Have Danced All Night
* I Dont Want To Miss A Thing
* I Say A Little Prayer
* Just The Two Of Us
* La Isla Bonita
* Livin La Vida Loca
* Mistyand more. ... Read more

Product Description
A terrific collection that brings together nine of Britten's previously unpublished songs, written over a period of 25 years from 1935 onwards. Many were originally intended to be part of song-cyles but were cut during the final revisions. This edition includes a helpful introduction and information regarding each song.

Titles:A Poison Tree
* Birthday Song For Erwin
* Cradle Song
* If Thou Wilt Ease Thine Heart
* Not Even Summer Yet
* The Red Cockatoo
* When You're Feeling Like Expressing Your Affection
* Wild With Passion ... Read more

Product Description
The traditional songs of Ireland have a haunting, emotionally charged atmosphere of their own, tinged as they are with a sense of heartfelt longing and loss. The three songs in this collection, Danny Boy, Roisin Dubh and Carrickfergus have been masterfully arranged by 2009 Emmy nominated British composer, Howard Goodall. ... Read more

Product Description
Back-to back parties, last-minute shopping, wrapping-up presents, cooking the turkey - sometimes Christmas can leave you feeling exhausted. What better way to enjoy the good things about the season than to chill out with music from Pam Wedgwoods After Hours Christmas?

With a variety of original pieces and arrangements of classic carols from Europe and North America, After Hours Christmas contains styles to suit any mood: Away In a Manger as a laid-back jazz waltz, The Angel Gabriel and In Dulci Jubilo as wistful ballads, and a bossa nova Ding! Dong! Merrily on High. The collection also contains a mix of piano solos and duets for you to enjoy on your own or with friends and family. So conjure up the magical atmosphere of Christmas and relax with these lush harmonies and well-loved melodies.

Whats more, Pam has created some cool and funky backing tracks, which are available as free downloads.

Titles: The Angel Gabriel
* Kirkpatrick: Away in a Manger
* The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy
* Quem Pastores Laudavere
* Willis/Murray: Classic American Christmas (It Came Upon a Midnight Clear/Away In A Manger)
* In Dulce Jubilo
* I Wonder as I Wander
* God Rest You Merry Gentlemen (Duet)
* Arbeau: Ding! Dong! Merrily on High (Duet)
* Wassailing-By (Duet)
* Wedgewood: Looking Back. ... Read more

Product Description
One of the hottest performers in the U.K. and Europe during 2006, Paolo Nutini stormed the radio airwaves in the U.S. during 2007 with leading single New Shoes, which was quickly followed by hit song Last Request.

Nutini's momentum continued when he landed high-profile tour dates with superstar Amy Winehouse and performed at the worlds largest music festivals including Bonnaroo and the globally televised Live Earth concerts.His exposure was further elevated when Ralph Lauren chose his music to be featured in a worldwide advertising campaign.

The album-matching songbook to These Streets provides musicians with lyrics, melody lines and chord changes, and professionally arranged piano accompaniments to every song on the album.Titles are: Jenny Don't Be Hasty
* Last Request
* Rewind
* Million Faces
* These Streets
* New Shoes
* White Lies
* Loving You
* Autumn
* Alloway Groove
* Last Request (piano mix). ... Read more

Product Description
23 classic pieces for electronic keyboard and published as part of the Easy Keyboard Library Series.

Titles: Air from Water Music
* Air on a G String
* Can-Can
* Main Theme from Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1
* Fantasie-Impromptu
* Fur Elise
* Intermezzo from Cavalliera Rusticana
* Largo from New World Symphony
*Brahms' Lullaby
* Minuet from Bocherini's String Quartet
* Minuet in G (Bach)
* Minuet in G (Beethoven)
* Ode to Joy
* Chopin Prelude
*Radetsky March
* Spring from The Four Seasons
* The Swan from Carnival of the Animals
* Swan Lake
* Theme from Mozart's Symphony No. 40
* To a Wild Rose
* Waltz from Sleeping Beauty
* Waves of the Danube
* William Tell Overture. ... Read more

Product Description
This latest edition to the Jazzin About series features more of Pam Wedgwood's inimitable jazzy melodies. This collection of original pieces have been tailor-made for the beginner recorder player (Grade 1-3). So take a break from the classics as you cruise blues, rock and jazz.

Titles: Tangerine
* Dragonfly
* Easy Tiger
* Riding out West
* Smooth Operator
* Let's get real
* Hot chilli
* Crystal spring
* Keep Truckin'
* Buttercup
* Cat Walk ... Read more

Product Description
Concert Repertoire for Recorder is a collection of twenty-seven idiomatic arrangements and original pieces for the Beginner to Intermediate (Grade 1-4) player. There is also a smattering of pieces for descant recorder, for variety and to encourage switching between instruments. From Handel to Beethoven, Telemann to Schumann and original pieces by Sally Adams, Ned Bennett, Walter Bergmann, Doris Da Costa, David Gordon and Sarah Watts. These pieces are guaranteed to be a real hit on the concert platform! ... Read more

Product Description
The Team Series is suitable for use with both individuals or as a group tutor encouraging students to try ensemble playing from the very early stages. Team Brass is a flexible and adaptable course ideal for beginner brass players and can be tailored to suit the specific needs of each student. Each piece is carefully graded to ensure a logical progression at a sensible pace and students are introduced to a wide variety of musical styles throughout the book. Imaginative piano accompaniments have been provided to add variety in performance. ... Read more

Product Description
Part of the "Easy Keyboard Library Series", this title presents 23 favourite hymns for electronic keyboard. It includes classics such as "Abide With Me", "All Things Bright and Beautiful" and "We Plough The Fields". ... Read more